Internal combustion engine



L. IMBLUM INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Aug. 4, 1931.

5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 2. 1929 Aug. 4, 1931. L. IMBLUM 817,375

ITERNAL COMBUSTION ENGIE l Filed May 2, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2[nz/enfor': Leo lmblum.

Maw f Aug. 4, 1931.

l.. IMBLUM 1,817,375

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE .Filed May 2, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patentedi ug. 4, 1.931l

PANY, 0F PUEBLO, COLORADO, f OORORATIONZOF lCOLORADO INTERNALcoiyiBirs'r'ioN ENGINE Application filed MayY 2,

An objectof this invention is tov provide an improved construction andarrangement of lelement-s in cam type internal-combustion engines.

nal-combustion engine kof the type described.;

A further object of theinvention is to pro-A vide an improved pistonguideassembly in an internal-combustion engineofthe type described. A

A further object of the invention is to i provide improved means formounting a Vpistonk guide assembly in an internal-'combustion engine ofthe type described.

A further object of the. invention is tov provide improvedv means forcompensating the expansive effect of temperature entials in certainelements of Van internalcombustion engine of the type described.` n

A further objectfof the invention is to be found in theprovision ofimproved means l for minimizing 'peripheral speed vdifferentials of arotatable cam and its roller toll lowers.

' j A .further ob] found in the provision ect of the invention to be camand its roller followers. V

' A further objecty of theinventionis to provide means forgclearing theVbearing surfaces of cam roller followers of grit,l chips and similarvoreignsubstances that damage said surfaces]-` A further object of theinvention is to provide an vimproved construction and arrangement of thereciprocating elements Vof an in` terna1-combustion kengine of the typede-r A further object of theinvention is to an improved constructionandA ar.

l metricallyfdisposed of improved means for minimizing slippagebetween arotatable might i929. serial No. ,359,831 y ,UNITEDv STA-Tes PATENToFFic-e IMBLUM, oF PUEBLO, COLORADO, AssiGNoR'rosiiviniiuiiiiAiinoiiAUiriciiii*corina-A scribed, whereby the inertiaeifevctsinherent in said reciprocating elements may be'morei eifectivelyland advantageously utilized.Y

Afurtlier-object of he invention is tozpro-'f vide improved pistonconnecting elementsin aninternal-combustion engine of the type de-y lscribed, kwhereby rsaid pistons are arranged in 1 pairs to form rigidunits'di'arelative to .the engine ,60 `ligation of the iii-ertiaeiiectsinherent in. said aXially-alined cam for more effective andadvantageousutipistons andconnections.

`[y'invention lconsists inthe construction,iv

arrangement and combination ofrelements' liereina'fteitset forth,pointed outinmy claims andy illustrated bythe aecompanying i drawings,in whichl Figure l bustion engine to which my invention isv particularlyapplicable, certainportions oiithef` engine nonessential to anunderstanding of its operation being omitted to conserve space.

tion andarrangeme'nt shown in Figure'l', ceris an elevation, partlyV insection, of the niaincase portion ,of .an internal-com- .v v

AFigure 2 is avertical section of the constructainparts being omittedasin the preceding figure. Figure 3' `s ar fragmentary'. .detail p view,partly in section, of one Vof the camv OL .y lowers employed inthe'engine. illustrated;

Figure 4 is a in lsectioinol the showing of Figure 3 and at 'rightangles thereto. [Figure 5 kis ak detail" View, partly in section, ofaportionof the' engine illustratedby Figuresl and 2, shoW- ingainoditied Figure a detail axially of one of the' engine cylinders. ure7 is a detail view,partlyfin'section, of the rigid members employedillustrated in Figure .5.

half

Figure 8 is a fragmentary 'detailviem partly y construction ofi-pistonguide.r

view, lpartly m section, kof

in the piston guide Y the modi icat`on shown in Fidure as viewedl i `FigY elevation, paitlyjin section and similar to i Figure l, showinglcertain improvementsand `modificationsY of the construction according,y y Figure9 is a vertical section onfthe indicated line 9-9 of'Figure8. Figure l0 isa detail fragmentary section of Vone of the pistonsemployed in the engine V and to -said latter figure'.

a portion' of the connecting elements employedtherewith. f i Y In theconstruction of the improvements illustrated, a cam typeinternal-combustion engine is indicated as comprising opposed maincasehalves 1() suitably locked together by means of bolts l1 to form ahousing about a substantially cylindrical, hollow interior; a main shaft12 axially of said housing and j ournaled in bearings 13 carried by saidmaincase halves 10; a multiple-lobed cam 14 fixed to and rotatable withsaid main shaft within said housing; cylinders 15 disposed inaxially-alined pairs radially of said main shaft about said housing andopening therethrough; pistons 15 mounted for rectilinear reciprocationaxially of said cylinders in a common manner; paired links 16 connectingpistons in each pair of alined cylinders, the links of each pair lyingon opposite sides of the cam 14 and said links being formed with slottedcentral portions adapted to embrace and slide relative to the main shaft12; and anti-friction roller follower assemblies 17 journaled betweeneach pair of links 16 on opposite sides of the main shaft 12 in positionfor rolling engagement with the eccentric surface of the cam 14. Fromthe showing and foregoing description it is obvious that pressuresdeveloped within the cylinders 15, however obtained, will act Ato movethe pistons within said cylinders and the links 16 connecting saidpistons, said piston motion being transmitted through the rollerfollowers 17 to the cam 14 and rotating said cam, all of which is, forpresent purposes, strictly conventional and in itself no part of theinstant invention, being only representative of an engine constructionto which said invention is advantageously applicable.

Itis readily apparent that as the cam 14 is rotated and the followers 17move alongA the eccentric surface or outline of said cam, a veryconsiderable non-radial thrust 1s developed between said followers andcam tending to move said followers tangentially ofA said cam andconsequently tending to displace the link assemblies carrying saidfollowers laterally out of their normal path of travel, which thrust, ifuncompensated, wouldf'produce undesirable side thrust between piston andcylinder walls and rapidly effect unequal wear between said lattersurfaces with consequent lowering of engine elieiency. To compensatesaid thrust developed between the cam 14 and followers 17, and topreserve the link assemblies in their normal paths-of travel and guidethe pistons 15 in their reciprocation within the cylinders, a pistonguide assembly is constructed and arranged as hereinafter set forth.Spiders, in this instance two in ninnber, though the number may vary inthe application of the invention to engines of various constructions,are formed each with an annular hub 18 adapted to fit about and looselyembrace the main shaft 12, spokes 19, preferably equal in number to thenumber of cylinders 15, spaced uniformly about and radiating from thehub 18 and an annular rim 20, preferably of rreater width than thicknessfor a purposethat will more clearly appear hereinafter, fixed to andconnecting the ends of the spokes 19 in concentric relation with the hub18. Ai ertured bosses 21 are formed on the spider rims 2() at uniformlyspaced intervals midway of each pair of spokes 19, and said spiders aremounted in concentric relation with the main shaft 12 on each side ofthecam ,14 within. and inimediately adjacent the inaincase halves 10, theapertures the bosses 21 registering with holes in said maincasc halvesto the end that bolts 22 may be passed through said apertured bosses andrfx stering holes to securely clamp said spiders at regular intervals tosaid maincase halves, said bolts being so positioned as to bring thespokes 19 of the spid-ers midway between the planes containing the axesof the engine cylinders. pertured the spiders at the point ofintersection of each spoke 19 with the rims 2O and, according to theshowing of Figures 1 and 2, shafts 24 are fixed at each end inregistering apertures of the bosses 23 and extend in axially parallelrelation with the main shaft 12 across the space within the housingbetween the spiders, said shafts 24 in this instance having radiallyonset central portions 25 to allow of Vfree rotation of the cam 14. vTheshafts 24, thus disposed, perpendicularly intersect the planes of thelinks 16 midway between adjacent margins of adjacent links andyntersectingl anti-friction rollers 26 are mounted for rot-a- 7 tion onsaid shafts 24 in the extended planes of said links 1G and .in positionto marginally contact with and roll re -tive to the adj.. edges ofadjacent links, relatively' wide bearing platcs27 being formed on saidadjacent margins of the links to provide adequate bearing surface forContact with saidA rollers 26. The rollers 26, clearly shown, arearranged in pairs Von each shaft 24, one roller 26 on each side of thecam 14. In the modification according to Figure 9, the rollers 26 areshown mountedv on stub shafts 24 instead of the shafts 24.`the

cent

llU

odset portions of said latter shafts being eliminated, said stub shafts24 being mounted in the apertnred bosses of the s ders in opposed,aXially-alined,pairs and secured in said bosses in any denied manier, asfor example by means of dowel pins 25 in reaistering holes in saidsti-,ib shafts and bosses,

and the opposed, inner e ds of' said stubshafts 24 are provided withsuitable ing means, such as heads` prevent axial displacement of therollers 26 Aelative to said stub shafts. lt is of course obvious thatthe stub shafts 24V may be formed directly on the spiders, if desired,in which case suitable retainingmeansw'ouldbe remcvabl vand r--llaceably mounted on kthe inner en l stub shafts for the same purpose asthehea'd's indicated above.r

" lengine is in operation, the motion of anyone linllz 16, will be equalin speed and vopp links, hence the rollers 26 yina-y simultaneous` lycontact adjacent bearing Iplates1'27r with out danger of speeddifferentials orrslippage however, since the link-s16 change directionof motion rapidly of the direction of rotation ofthe rollers 26,

'A it may well be expedient to provide positiveengaging means betweenthe plates 27 and rollers 26 to overcome slippage between such meansbeing illustrated in Figures Sandi.

9 as Comprising marginal gear teeth26-on :meshing with similar teeth 27"forming-marfeo .. ranged diametricallyof the spiders to form,` throughthe khubs 18, ,rigidconnections-'be tween opposite shafts 24 or 24', sothat,junder the influence of heat developedin the-opera the spokes, 19expandor A'a rigid connection is Y u Ivisaid pistons and'links16,1one`such'con- 4between the bearing tion ofthe engine, contract :inconformity with. the :expansionvr and about dent with the outlines ofthe bearingv surfaces of their respective rollers, said teeth 26 ginalracks on the bearing plates 27, the pitch lines of the teeth 27 beingcoincidentl with the planes `of the bearingisu'rfaces ofa saidf freerolling Contact isr had surfaces of said. plates 27 and rollers 26, the`intermeshing teeth: 26 and 27 serving only to of speed and directionplates 27, so that provided withJa 'row of teeth of said cam andfollowers, `as is clearly'shown Y.

in Figures 8 and 9.

It is to be noted that the spokes 19A'are1arandy contraction of thelinks 16 and'other related parts and thusl the correct relationy 'of ltimes assured, anydiiference in parts is' at all expansiveorcontr-active effect'between the maincase and the interior" elements`being compensated through the relative `flexibility of the rim whichflexibility axially thereof, as abOVeiset'Orth. f

15 andto moreefl'ectively yrealize the inertia advantages ofthe pist sof ,saidf extending inlspaced parallel relation axially ofthe inner endof each piston 15', four such fw' y :lugs diverging terminal ofthe links16 are secured kby means f A i of bolts 37 passing through registeringholes 4' It is apparent/that. in the engine construction illustrated,when `such yQinstance, osite arms 16-1 in direction' .to the motion of'its if adjacent--y l'insai'd diverging arms andjlugs;

unitary assemblies are formed of thepistonsin eachipairV fof7axially-alii'ied cylinders Tand the links connecting saidpistons rvandthe` with consequent reversalsf the reversal-resisting- 1 inertia ofsaid rollers and positively prevent .g

said rollers' andl plates, one Y the earlyfsta-ges of,4 the power strokewhen p such power isat its maximum, to overcome" the peripheriesy oftherollers 26,: the pitch lines of'saidfteeth 26 being coincif.`

preserve synchronismi of said bearing rsur.- faces. In like mannerptheycam-14 mayrbe` 14; on and about its eccentric outline in positiontemeshformed' on the roller fol-y 20 between the bolts 22,towpreserve` thesaid rim is-prefe'rfably narrower radially of the spider thanpit iss;

f "ingsof theteeth=33 with th'eteeth 28 and 31 l In order tocompletelyeliminate AVsideserving Y' thrust Abetween thepistonsrlandfcylindersq K :noted that the n kand link-assemblies; 1pro'i'fidedl-bfatvgneiiy lthe" 1= nectionbeiiigillustratedi inFigure's 8and 110 i' as comprising integral lugs .36 formed on andlugsjbeingfprovided oneach piston in this towhich weightsoftheconstituent elements kof eachl such assembly are' combined to obtainmaximum: mass mffeach reciprocating `unit.' Due tofthisjcombinedmass,'which enhances the inertla 'vof `the reciprocatingunits, a considverable portion off the power generated by the is `used,'in'l expandinggases in the cylinders theinertia of the Vreciprocating units and is infact stored vin saidv units as potentialy energy to be utilized inthelater sta es of the power ystroke vwhen the' expansive e ect of thegases ison the wane due to heat losses, thus prol-r riving-:r'naximumpowerffrom the expanding j 'gases ywhich is applied tok turnv thecam 14after the force of. said gases hasfbe'en reduced through heat losses; pp p s In the ymod'fication:according to Figures- 5,6 and-.7, theengineisin its vmain essentials the/same as above described save that thespiders:` and yrollers Y26 'arel omitted and modifiedmeans, hereinafterset jforth, substituted.

4A As shownin thetigures above noted, the bearingplates 27 carriedby thelinks 16 are provided with'y parallel rows ofi-gear n teeth 28 onprovided parallel rows ofigear teeth 31 f'havin gthe` same pitch as theteeth 28V and Ybe-` v I 1 in'gg -opposed th"eret )"`an i` spacedtherefrom. Rollersf32, in this vinstanceltwo lin number,- thoughfthesnumber may. be varied-as desired, i -each of jbeari'ng' alength` equaltothe width ofthe with gear teeth 33 ron each end ladapted to meshV withthe-teeth surfaces 27tand 30; and each formed'- 28and 31, are mountedbetween land in'rolling engagement with each` pairof opposedsurfaces 27-and 30,.th'e mesh-1 Yv i to held said rollers-32 in position witheut.vthe need offret'ainers. Itis to be pitch lines ofV the teeth 28vandlfcorrespondwith' the surface lines of the the long margins of theirbearing faces, and f' a rigidmember29 is mounted' Within andrfix-- ledly oradjustablysupported by themaincase between adjacent cylinders,said vmember 29 having bearingfaces from and inoppositionrto-the'bearing facesv surface outline of the rollers 32, sothat, when said teeth are in mesh as above set forth, there is noslippage between the surfaces inrolling contact and axial displacementof the rollers 'fis precluded. When the members 29vare adjustablymounted, las shown, provision is made-.for careful spacing of thesurfaces 30 relative to the lates 27. r-

Since the fo lowers 17 Vnormally bearing lffagainst the eccentricsurface of the cam14 without departing of the vappended claims specificshowing and foregoing description;v

are subject to rapid vvariation of their speeds of rotation,y and sincethe inertia forces of the elements in operation tend to momenta-` rily;separate said followers vfrom said cani 15"at times,

with consequent slippage and ill effect on the normallycontactingsurfaces, it is expedient Vthat means be provided to limit the speed ofrotation of said followers to that developed through contact withsaidbeam, one such means having been above de scribed `as comprising theteeth 14v on the cam meshing with similar teeth on the fol-I directionof Asaid follower and being. provided with a block offriction-resistant, nonabrasive material secured thereto in position tooverlie and bear against the surface of sa id follower.

serving to press the block 35'into close contact with the moving surfaceof said follower and exert a braking and wiping effect thereon,thuslimiting the speed `of rotation of said follower and minimizingtheslipping effect between the cam and followers and at the same timewipingof grit, chips or other foreign matter that might adhere to saidfollower surface orbe passed thereto from the cam surface and furthe-rsmoothing out abrasions or distortions that might occur. v, Y

lSince many changes, alterations and modificatioiis of the form andconstruction of elementsshownand described may be had from the spirit'of my invention, and since the invention is'applicable in variousmodifications to a variety 'of adaptations in a broad field, I wishto beunderstood as being limited solely by the scope rather-than by the Iclaim as my invention- 1. An internal-,combustion engine of thecharacter described, comprising, `in combination, a main shaft, a camfixed `to and rotat-` the curvature of said'spring.

of the follower surf" "face produced through the slight slippage v lyshaft and cam,

`necting saidv able with said main shaft, cylinders disposed in opposed,axially-alined pairs radially of fSaid shaft and cam, pistons mountedfor rectilineary Vreciprocation in said cylinders,` links rigidlyconnecting said pistons in each pair ofaxially-alined cylinders,cam-followers carried by said links in position for rolling engagementwith the eccentric surface of said cam, opposed bearing plates onadjacent margins of adjacent links and rotatable piston guide meansbetween and simultaneously engaging adjacent bearing plates of adjacentlinks.

2. An internal-combustion engine of the character described, comprising,in combination, a main shaft, a cam fixed to and rotatable with saidmain shaft, cylinders disposed in opposed, axially-alined pairs radiallyof saidsli aft and cam, pistons mounted for rectilinear reciprocation insaid cylinders, links rigidly connecting said pistons in each pair ofAaxially-alined cylinders, camfollowers carried byV said links inposition for rolling engagement with the eccentric surface of said cam,and rotatable piston guide means between and simultaneously engagingadjacent margins of adjacent links.

8. An internal-combustion engine of the `character described,comprising, in combina-- tion, a main shaft, a cam fixed to androtatable with said main shaft, cylinders dis- 'posed inopposed,axially-alined pairs radially of said shaft and cam, pistonsmounted for rectilinear reciprocation in said cylinders, linksconnecting said pistons in each ypair of axially-alined cylinders,cam-followers carried byz'said links in position for rollying engagementwith the eccentric surface of said cam and piston guide means engagingsaid links, said guide means comprising counterpart spiders concentricwith said main shaft on each side of said cam, a plurality of spindleson said spiders and rollers carried by said spindles between and inposition to engage adjacent margins of adjacent links.

4. An internal-combustion engine of the character described,vcomprising,in combination, a main shaft, a cam on and rotatable ywith said mainshaft, cylinders disposed in opposed, axially-aliiied pairs radially ofsaid pistons mounted vfor .rectilinear reciprocation in'said cylinders,links conpistons in each pair of axiallyalined cylinders, cam-followerscarried by said linksin position for rolling engagement -with theeccentric surface of said cam, op-

posed bearing plates on adjacent margins of adjacent links between saidmain shaft and cylinders, counterpart spiders concentric with said mainshaft oneach side of said cam Vand a plurality of. rollers rotatablycarried by said spidersbetweeii and in position to simultaneously engagethe opposed bearingplates of adjacent links. A

5. An internalfcombustion engine of the A rollers and bearing plates,

5 shaft and cam, pistons mounted foi' rectiliny ear reciprocationin saidcylinders, links connecting said pistons ineach pair of aXiallyj falined cylinders, cam-followers carried by said links in position forrolling engagement alc witli the eccentric ,surface of said cam, op-

posed bearing plates carriedby adj acent margins of adj acenty linksbetween saidi'nain shaft and cylinders, counterpartv spiders concentricj with said main shaft oneach sidey ofgsaid camspindlesuniformly spacedopposed, s aXially-alined pairs about said spiders paralflel with saidmain shaft betweensaid bear-l ing plates andjrollers carried by saidspindles I between and vin position tosimultaneously enlinks. .y A, j LY.

6.* An internal-combustion engine, comprising, in combination, a mainshaft, ay cam on and rotatable, with said main shaft, cylino ingengagement withthe eccentric surface of said 'cam opposed-bearing plateson adjacent y.margins of adjacent linksbetween said main .centric ywithsaid main shaftg on each side of -saidcam, a plurality ofrollers ried bysaid spidersfbetwjeen and in position ;to simultaneously engagev ingplates of adjacent links and interengaging speed synchronizing meanscarried byy said' rollers and bearing plates. q y

v 7.. An internal-combustion engine, comprising, in combination, ,aVmain shaft, a cam on androtatablewith said main shaft, cylindersdisposed in opposed, aXially-alined pa-irs radially ,of said shaft andcam, pistons mountedfor rectilinear reciprocation in said cylinders,links connecting 'pistons' injeach painof axiallymlined cylinders,cam-follow- .ers carried byv` said links in position for rollingengagement shafty and-cylinders, piston guide means includingrollersbetween and inv position to simultaneously j. engage'speedsy-nchronizing means carried'by said 60` 8. Aninternal-combustionengine,comprising, in combination, .a inain'sliaft,arv cam on i and, rotatable with4 said niain shaft, cylinders disposedin opp`osed, .aXially-alinedpairs radiallyof said shaft andjcam,vpistons mounted 1v f I5 for. reet'liesar'reeipfesation' in. .SeidCylinders,

in combinavgage the opposedbearing plates of adjacent Y.

pair of aXially-alined cylinders,I cam-follow-v ers carried by saidlinks inposition vfor roll-,-

shaft and cylinders,counterpart spiders conv o Pris/ing, rotatablycarthe opposed ybear-y tween adjacent links land surfacesparallel withandV opposed to each of v with the eccentric surface Vofsaidlcain,`lopposed bearing plates on adjacent l margins lof adjacentlinksbetween said mainf j the opposed kbearing l g; plate'slbfadjacent links and interengaging cylinders,

vlinks `connecting said pistons in each pair o-f aXially-alinedcylinders, cam-followers carriedby said .links in position for rollingengagement with the eccentric surface of said cam and piston guide meansengaging said"4 links, jsaid guide means comprising counterpart spidersconcentric with said mainshaft on each side of said cam,

9. VAn internal-combustion engine, compris-v 1nl combination, a mainshaft, a cam oir ing and rotatable with said main shaft, cylindersdisposed in opposed, aXially-alined pairs raa plurality of shaft-s sparallel with said main shaft and connecting` said spiders betweenadjacent links and vroll-sy dially of said shaft and cam, pistonsmounted for rectilinear reciprocation infsaid cylinders, linksconnecting said lpistons in eachv pair of aXially-alined cylinders,cam-followers carried by said links in4 position for rolling engagementwith the eccentric surface of Y said cam, opposed bearing platesonadjacent margins of adjacent links between said main shaft andcylinders, counterpart spiders concentric with said main shaft on eachside of said cam, a plurality of shaftsin parallel relation'with saidmain shaftand connecting .said spiders between adjacent links androllers carried by said shafts between and-in position to simultaneouslyengage the opposed bearing plates of adj acentlinks.

l0. An internal-combustionfengine, comin combination, a main shaft, a.cam on and rotatable with said main shaft,`cyl inders disposed inopposed,axiallyalined pairs radially of said shaft and cam, pistonsmounted forrectilineai" reciprocationin said linksl connecting saidpistons in veach pair of aXially-alined cylinders, cam-folcylinders,

lowers carried by said links in position for rolling engagement withtheeccentric surface ofsaidrv cam, opposed bearing plates'on'adjacentmargins of adjacent links ,betweenl said avv main shaft and cylinders, arigid member bepresenting bearing prising, in combination, amain shaft,a cam on and rotatable with said main shaft,-` cyl'-vr inders disposedin opposed, axially-aimed pairs radially of said shaft and cam,pistons fmounted for rectilinear reciprocation in vsaid links connecting saidpistons inr 'each pair of aXially-alined cylinders, cani-fol'- lowerscarried bysaid links in position for l1.r An internal-combustionengine,Vcomrollingengagement with the eccentricV surface of said cam,'opposedbearing plates on adjacent margins of adjacent links between said mainshaftand cylinders, parallel rows of `gear teeth on the outer margins ofthe bearing surfaces of saidv plates, a rigid member bey tween adjacentlinks and presenting bearing surfaces parallel with and opposed to eachof the bearing plates on said adjacent links, parallel rows of gearteeth on the outer margins of said bearing surfaces in opposition withthe teeth on said bearing plates and rollers,

' each formed with an annular row of gear teeth adjacent each end,between and simultaneously engaging each pair of opposed bearingsurfaces and bearing plates, the teeth Iiis on said rollers meshing withthe teeth formed on said bearing plates and surfaces.

12. In an internal-combustion engine having a main shaft journaled inayhousing, a

j cam'on and rotatable with said main shaft within said housing,cylinders disposed in opposed, aXially-alined pairs about said housingand radially of said shaft and cam, pistons mounted for rectilinearreciprocation in said cylinders, paired links on opposite sides of saidcam and connecting pistons in each pair of aXially-alined cylinders andcam-folsition to simultaneously engage adjacent margins of adjacentlinks. y I "13. In an internal-combustion engine havl inga main shaftjournaled in a housin T a i cam on and rotatable with said main shaftwithin said housing, y opposed, aXially-alined pairsabout said housingand radially of said shaft and cam, pistons `mounted for rectilinearreciprocation in said cylinders, paired links on opposite sides of saidcam and connecting pistons in each pair of aXially-alined cylinders andcam-followers cairied by said links in position for rolling engagementwith the eccentric surface of saidV cam,y piston guide means comprisingcounterpart spiders concentric with said main shaft on each side of saidcam, each of `said Vspiders comprising an annular hub loosely embracingsaid main shaft, a plurality of `uniformly spaced rspokes'. radiatingfrom said hub and an annular rim connecting the outer ends of saidspokes, a plurality of uniformly spaced spindles carried by said spidersparallel with and spaced from .said main shaft and extending in opposedrelation be-` tween adjacent pairs of links and rollers carried by saidplurality of spindles in position to simultaneously engage adjacentmargins of adjacent links. i i

14. In an internal-combustion 'engine having a main shaft journaled in ahousing, a cam on land rotatable with said main shaft cylindersvdisposed in in said cylinders, paired links on opposite"r sides of saidcam and connecting pistons in each pair of aXially-alined cylinders,bearing plates on adjacent margins of adjacent pairs of said links andcam-followers carried by said iinks in position for rolling engagement`with the eccentric surface of said cam, piston guide means comprisingcounterpart spiders concentric with said main shaft on each side of saidcam, each of said spiders comprising an annular hub loosely embrac--"SOing said main shaft, a plurality ofuniformly spaced spokes radiatingfrom said hub and an annular rim connecting the outer ends of saidspokes, said annular rim being secured to said housing at uniformlyspaced points'-85 intermediate the outer ends of said spokes, aplurality of spindles on said spiders at the intersections of saidspokes and rims in parallel relation with said main shaft and extendingin opposed relation between adjai490 cent pairs of links and rollerscarried by said plurality of spindles in position to simultaneouslyengage opposed bearing plates on vadjacent links. n

15. In an internal-combustion engine hav ing a main shaft journaled in ahousing, a cam on and rotatable with said main shaft within saidhousing, cylinders disposed in opposed, aXially-alined pairs about saidhousing and radially of said shaft and cam, pis-9100 tons mounted forrectilinear reciprocation in said cylinders, paired links on oppositesides of said cam and connecting pistons in each pair of aXially-alinedcylinders, bearin of said links and cam-followers carried by said linksin position for rolling engagement with the eccentric surface of saidcam, piston guide means comprising parallel rows of gear teeth on thelonger margins of opposed bear ing plates of adjacent pairs of links,rigid members fixed or adjustably secured to said housing betweenadjacent pairs of links and having bearing surfaces parallel with,spaced from and in f faces carried by said links, parallel rows of gearteeth on the longer margins of said bea-ring surfaces in opposition tothe teeth on said bearing plates and rollers, each formed with anannular row of gear teeth adjacent yeach end, between and simultaneouslyengaging each pair of opposed bearing surfaces and bearing plates, theteeth of said rollers meshing with the teeth carried by said bearingplates and surfaces.

16. In an internal-combustion engine having a main shaft, a cam on androtatable with said main shaft, cylinders disposed in opposed,aXially-alined pairs radially of said shaft and cam,`pistons mounted forrectilin' plates on adjacent margins of adjacent pa-irsi''105 oppositionto the bearing sur-@ ear reciprocation in said cylinders, pairedv linksconnecting pistons in each pair of opposed cylinders on 'opposite sidesof said cam and cam-followers journaled between the links of each pairin position for rolling engagement withrthe eccentric surface of saidcam, means for limiting the speed of rotation of said followers, saidmeans comprising a leaf spring mounted between Vthe links in each pairand bridging each follower, said spring having a normal tension towardssaid follow er, and a friction block carried by said'spring and tensionheld against `the moving surface of said follower. y 17. In aninternal-combustion engine having a main shaft, a cam. on and rotatablewith said main shaft, cylinders disposed in opposed, axially-alinedpairs radially of said shaft and cam and pistons mounted for reo-Vtilinear reciprocation in saidcylinders, means for connecting thepistons 'ineach pair of aXially-alined cylinders to utilize and enhancethe inertia effect of said reciprocating'y elements, said meanscomprising paired links disposed on opposite sides of said cam andconnecting pistons in opposed, axially-alined Y cylinders, each of saidlinks being formed g with diverging terminal arms on each end engagingand rigidly secured to lugs on said pistons. v

Signed at Colorado Springs, in the county,V of El Paso and State ofColorado, this 27th day of March, Y1929. Y n

4 Y LEO IMBLUM.

